Romanian DSO completes 2.2 mln euro grid overhaul project

The upgrade works targeted substations and 14 km of high-voltage power lines in southeast Romania, enabling the connection of renewable energy generation facilities, Retele Electrice Dobrogea said in a press release.

The project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through Romania’s Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (POIM) 2014-2020, with non-refundable funding worth 10 million lei.

“[…] The one [project] completed now with the help of POIM funds targets a rapidly expanding area of ​​a wider region that stands out for its multitude of renewable projects. As a result, we need high voltage lines with increased distribution capacity, adapted to current and future distribution needs,” Mihai Peste, general manager of Retele Electrice, said.

Launched in September 2022, the project enhanced power distribution security for customers, producers, and consumers by upgrading power lines and poles, as well as expanding network distribution capacity.

The power grid in southeast Romania is at full capacity in 2024, but available connection capacities are planned to reach 2 GW in 2025 and 3 GW in 2030, according to the latest data published on transmission system operator Transelectrica’s website.

Retele Electrice Dobrogea also earmarked over 67 million lei for two projects aimed at further modernising its energy infrastructure in the southeastern Navodari area, it said in a separate press release on Friday.

Retele Electrice runs three distribution companies that operate electrical networks with a total length of over 133,000 km, including 287 primary stations and 24,000 substations in the Romanian regions of Muntenia, Banat, and Dobrogea.

In October 2023, Greek power producer and supplier PPC acquired Enel Romania, the former parent company of Retele Electrice, for a total of 1.24 billion euro.

(1 euro=4.9698 lei)